Expansible shoe-last.



C. SCHEVITZ.

EXPANSIBLE SHOE LAST.

APPLICATION man SEPT.8. 1915.

1. E. 51K? v Patent-ed May 23, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

Elma/MM ar/ Sc/wwi wi bmeooea 'lHE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH cm, W ASHINGTON|D. c.

CARL SCHEVITZ, OF JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA.

EXPANSIBLE SHOE-LAST.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 23, 1916.

Application filed September 8, 1915. Serial No. 49,552.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CARL Sonnvrrz, a citizenof the United States, residing at Jacksonville, in the county of Duvaland State of Florida, have invented new and useful Improvements inExpansible Shoe- Lasts, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to expansible shoe lasts, the object of theinvention being to produce a device of the class referred to embodyingin. connection with a plurality of shoe stretching members movable andoperable in different planes, novel means whereby each of saidstretching members may be operated independently of the others therebyenabling any desired portion of the upper of a shoe to be stretched to adegree necessary to render the shoe comfortable to a person wearing thesame,

The shoe last hereinafter described is adapted to stretch either or bothsides of the shoe, or the toe portion thereof either in a substantiallyhorizontal plane or upwardly in relation to the sole of the shoe and theside stretching members are so constructed and mounted relatively to theopeating mechanism that they may be adjusted toward and away from thetoe of the shoe in order to stretch either or both side portions of theupper at the desired point or points.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in thenovel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as hereindescribed, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings :--Figure 1 is a plan view, partly brokenaway in section, illustrating the expansible shoe last of thisinvention. Fig 2 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line 22 ofFig. 1. Fig. 3 is-a vertical transverse section on the line 33 ofFig. 1. Fig. a is a vertical transverse section on the line l1 ofFig. 1. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectionillustrating the pivotal connection of one of the handle bars with themain frame. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the frame.

The expansible shoe last contemplated in this invention comprises aframe designated generally at A. and comprising the side frame bars 1,the front cross bar 2, the rear cross bar 3 and the longitudinallyextending bars or webs 4 parallel to the side bars 1 and connected attheir opposite extremities to the front andrear bars 2 and 3. The rearcross bar 3 is rounded or arcuate as shown so as to bear internallyagainst the heel portion or counter of the shoe thereby serving toproperly position the frame in a shoe.

The longitudinal bars 1 and 2 are provided adjacent to the heel end ofthe frame with upstanding lugs 5, four of such lugs being shown and twohandle bars 6 are pivotally connected to the lugs 5 at 7. Each of thebars 6 is preferably of open rec.- tangular form as best shown in Fig. 4and has a shaft 3 journaled therein and extend ing lengthwisethereof,each of said shafts having fast on the upper extremity thereof anoperating head shown in the form of a milled wheel 9. At its lowerextremity each shaft 8 has fast thereon a pinion 10 the teeth of whichare curvilinear and meshv with.

another pinion 11 fast on the rear end of a countershaft 12extendinglongitudinally of the frame 1 and journaled in bearings 13 and1 1. The bearing 13 is slidable for a short distance longitudinally ofthe frame 1, being provided with laterally extending trunnions 15 whichmove back and .forth in guide slots 16 in the main frame. The otherbearing 14 may be stationary or movable as may be preferred.

On the forward extremity of each shaft 12 there is a bevel pinion 17which meshes with and drives a bevel gear 1.8 fast on a sleeve 19 whichis slidable in slots 20 extending longitudinally of the frame A. Eachsleeve 19 is internally threaded to engage the threaded stem or shank 21of one of a pair of side stretching members desig nated generally at B.Each side stretching member comprises a base bar 22 fast on the stem orshank 21 and extending parallel to the adjacent side of the frame A. Apin 23 extends inwardly from the bar 22 and works back and forth in aslot 2 1 in the frame A to prevent the member B from turning on the axisof the shank or stem 21. Each side spreading member B is formed in crosssection as shown in Fig. 3, the same comprising upper and lower platesor sections 25 and 26, respectively, which are connected to the bar 22by means of a hinge pin 27. Threaded stops or set screws 28 and 29carried by the bar 22 serve to properly position the plates 25 and 26 inaccordance with the upward pressure to be exerted on the upper of theshoe. The stops or screws 28 and'29 are adjusted before the last isinserted in the shoe.

The toe stretching member designated generally at C is constructed in amanner similar to each of the side stretchingmembers B, comprising theupper and lower plates or' sections 30 and 31, which are hinged'at 32 toan arcuate base bar 33,

screwsor stops 34 and 35 being employed to properly position thesections 30 and 31.

Extending rearwardly from'the bar 33 is a stemor shank 36 which ispreferably square in cross section as shown in Fig. 3 and is slidablefin.a guide opening 37 of'corresponding shape in the front cross bar 2 ofthe frame. This prevents the toe spreading member from turning ortilting. Therear end portion of the shank 36 is longitudinally bored andthreaded to receive the threaded forward end portion 38 of a shaft 3.9journaled in abearing 40 between the 4 bars or webs. 4 and having'faston the rear 1 end thereof a bevel pinion 41 which meshes with and isactuated by a bevel pinion 42 on the lower extremity of an upright shaft43 ournaled in an open rectangular upright V or "standard-'44. The shaft43 has fast on the upper extremity thereof an operating head 45 shown inthe .form of a milled wheel.

In operation, after first adjusting the threaded stops or screws 28,29,34 and 35, the frameA'is inserted in a shoe leaving theoperatingheads 9 and 45 projecting from the top of the shoe where theyare readily accessible. By means of the operating head the heads 9, thecorresponding side stretch- 45 and the shafts 43 and 39, the toestretching member 0 may now be advanced so as to exert any desiredpressure within the toe of the shoe. 'By then operating. one of ingmember B; maybe forced outwardly from the frame so as to-exert anoutward pressure against the upper. Both of the side stretching membersmay be forced out-1 wardly by operating both of the heads 9. To adjustthe side stretching members B toward or away from the toe of the shoe,the handle bars 6 may be pressed either in a forward or rearwarddirection, thereby advancing or' retracting said side stretchingmembers, enabling the desired portion or *ifportionsj of the side of theshoe to be stretched in accordance with the shape of the foot torelievethe pressure thereon at the required point. After the shoe hasbeen copies of this patent may .be obtained for stretched, theoperations just described are reversed and the expansible shoe last isthen withdrawn from the shoe.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In an expansible shoelast, the combination of a frame, laterally movable side stretchingmembers, and means operable from the exterior of a shoe forindependently shifting said stretching members.

2. In an expansible shoe last, the combination of a frame, laterallymovable side stretching members, a longitudinally movable toe-stretchingmember, and means operable from the exterior of a shoe for independentlyshifting each of said side and toe stretching members.

3. In an expansible shoe last, the combination of a frame, laterallymovable side stretching members, means operable from the exterior of ashoe for independently shifting said stretching members, and means forbodily shifting said side stretching members in a fore and aftdirection.

4. In an expansible shoe last, the combination of a frame, laterallymovable side stretching members, means operable from the exterior of ashoe for independently shifting said stretching members, and means forbodily shifting said side stretching members in a fore and aftdirection, each independently of the other.

5. In an expansible shoe last, the combination of a frame, a stretchingmember movable relatively to the frame and embodying a plurality ofhinged sections, means for positioning said sections, and means operablefrom the exterior of the shoe for shifting said stretching member.

'6. In an expansible shoe last, the combination of a frame, laterallymovable side stretching members, means operable from the exterior of ashoe for independently shifting said stretching members, means forbodily shifting said side stretching members in a fore and aftdirection, said means including handle bars pivotally connected to theframe, shafts journaled in said handle bars, and longitudinally movablecounter-shafts driven by said shafts and geared to said side stretchingmembers. 7 In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of awitness.

CARL SCHEVITZ. Witness:

BENNETT S. J ONES.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington,D. C.

